Backpacker by Heart

I've been bitten by the travel bug when I took a trip for work to 5 destinations in Asia in just one route. I made it to Jakarta, Bali, KL, Saigon and Bangkok all in one direction. I was then carrying a huge suitcase and traveling using the national carriers. I wanted nice hotels and took the taxi to and from the airport.

It didn't take long to notice that I was doing something wrong. I just didn't feel right. Trip after trip abroad every month after, I was slowly introduced to the backpacking way of traveling. It was Thailand that brought out the adventurous spirit in me. In the Philippines, I just went to Boracay every year, and that was it. Now, I cannot even stand a weekend without going out of town.

Backpacking is a way of travel and life. It's not for everyone. I've asked my friends if they were willing to stay in guesthouses, share bathrooms, talk to strangers, take the bus and go to a trip without any set itinerary. They wouldn't. And I don't blame them. I always try to convince them to at least try. But I realized it's not a preference. You have to really be a backpacker at heart.

So now, I embark on my another backpacking experience. I am in China. Alone with my trusted backpack. Sure, I have wandered in SEA alone. I have trekked up to Mount Bromo, crossed the islands of Thailand, trekked the highlands of Malaysia and explored the regions of Indochina. But now, I feel I am new in this. I am filled with excitement and anticipation. I am eager to experience what's ahead of me.

For 18 days, I will be travelling in South China, with P35,000, across 10 destinations, from Guangzhou to Shangri-la. I do hope to meet some pinoy backpackers as well, because in all my travels, I have never met any. I hope to share every experience in this ambitious trip.

Comments

  1. J.March 13, 2009 at 8:28 PM

    ive always wanted to go backpacking alone, lalo na around asia, but i was always afraid of the what ifs. i thought id go around the philippines first but it still remains to be something ive yet to do.
    pretty interested to see how your china trip unfolds.
    looks like youre out on the road already, so ill just follow you on your blog for now.
    godspeed!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMarch 16, 2009 at 1:15 AM

    Ive havent backpacked ever but dabbled a bit on getting it rough twice in my life. First was a road trip complete with camping gear and all but this turned me off with the backpakers ive met alng the wy. For me, everyone who seemed to be backpacking whom ive met thorugh the years ive lived in australia, were young people full of hormones and lack of inhibitions and social grace and manners. I didnt quite like them at all. But when i tavelled to india with my now husband and parents-in-law, we roughed it in by simply not having a set plan with our transportation and accommodation. With literally our oversize backpacks, i revised my perception of backapcking and saw it as an adventure instead ofan orgy. We knew we had to get to our friends wedding at a specific day, so we explored delhi and worked our way soutwest via agra, jaipur and ahmnabad using public and local means. I would love to backpack my way through an adventure but cannot do it alone i know. Id love to try it out with my husband and friends someday... maybe even my kids when theyre older and am still able too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Island ExplorerMarch 16, 2009 at 1:18 PM

    backpacking is not an orgy. for me, it's travelling for real, because you're not tied up in tour groups. and you dictate the pace. it's your life, your adventure.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Us-Usan Island: Guimaras

Image
After having a pleasant lunch in Nagarao, we decided to hire a boat to explore the surrounding islands of Nagarao. There was this one island that the staff recommended, Us-usan Island. As soon as I saw a strip of sand glistening from a distance, I knew we were in for a treat. Us-usan Island. The water wasn't as clear though as in Nagarao and in most of Guimaras. The sand bar jutting out of the island seemed like a catwalk on the sea. This provided a nice swimming area for the island's visitors as well. We began to explore the island, hoping to circle it in less than an hour. The island has a narrow shoreline, probably because it was high tide. There were also foliage all around, so it was quite a struggle going around. We were treated though with amazing views of the sea. This tree was alone and offshore for around 100 meters. It was quite strange to see a single tree in full bloom in the middle of the sea. After 15 minutes of walking, we arrived at a mangrove area. There were
Explore...

JCO Donuts and Coffee

Image
Its logo looks like Starbucks and the look of the place is like Krispy Kreme in orange. I guess the owners of JCO really thought of merging coffee and donuts, which are of course, perfect for each other. I stumbled upon JCO when it opened in Jakarta 2 years ago. The lines were unbelievably long, and that reminded me of our Gonuts Donuts craze back then. After 2 years, JCO in Jakarta has established itself as a donut shop serving great coffee and blended drinks. They also serve ice cream (gelato). JCO is a franchise that began in Singapore, spread in Malaysia, and hit Indonesia. The donuts craze came about the same time across all countries in Asia. JCO for me is different. When I tasted it the first time, I just had the glazed donut served by my clients. MY initial reaction was, it tasted like Dunkin' Donuts. And that held my interest. While Go Nuts and Krispy Kreme tasted the same, Dunkin Donuts was still different. In the Philippines, Dunkin' is targets the mass market, makin
Explore...

Legaspi Suites Hotel: Davao

Image
Legaspi Suites is the only boutique hotel in Davao. What makes it boutique is its size and attention to design and ambience. Legaspi Suites is located in a complex that was once an ancestral home. The landmark still remains in tact at the middle of the complex and a 4 story apartment building was built around it to house the hotel. Once you enter the lobby, you would feel that the hotel thought about its design, which is uncommon in Davao. I would think this would be normal in Cebu already, but in Davao, good design is still scarce. I got the cheapest room, a standard room for P1,600 since I was only staying for one night. The room was huge and very bare. I'm assuming this room was made simple because of the class. The rooms have different colors, as seen from their brochures. I passed by a suite room which was open, and I thought it looked charming. My room was located on the second floor beside the spa, so I had a view of the courtyard downstairs. I love this place because it had
Explore...